Placket-fastener



(No Model.)

. WEITZEL.

Patented Jan. 11,1898.

I. PLAGKET PASTBNER.

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' UNITED ASrnrns PATENT @irren ISAAC N. lVEI']ZEL, OF ROCHESTER, NEV YORK.

PLAcKET-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,131, dated January 1 1, 1898.

Application filed October 4, 1897. Serial No. 853.978. (No model.)

To ail whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Isl-inc N. WErrznL, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in'Devices for Closing Divides in Dress-Skirts, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specication and shown in the accompanying drawings.

The skirts of womens dresses are formed with whatis known as a placket-hole or divide at the back, this opening consisting of a slit extending from the band vertically downward nine or ten inches, more or less, the band also being vertically divided to correspond with the slit. The ends of the bands where divided are commonly provided with simple fasteners, as hooks and eyes or pins, for holding them together, no other provision being made for keeping the placket-hole or divide closed. As a result it frequently occurs that when the wearer sits or draws the skirt to one side while passing over mud or other matter liable to soil the skirt this opening is caused to gape, contrary to the wish of the wearer of the garment. To remedy this difficulty and provide means whereby 'said opening may be always kept closed While the garment is worn is the object of my invention.

This invention, which I style a dresssafety, consists of a two-part metal clasp to be secured to the meeting ends of the band, each part of the clasp being provided with a thin pendent strip of metal or similar iirxn material extending downward along the sides of the placket-hole or divide and pivotally connected at their lower ends. These pendent strips are perforated and stitched to the cloth of the garment at the edges or sides of the placket-hole or divide, so that the latter becomes, as it were, metal bound. /Vhen the ends of the band are brought together and secured by the clasp, one strip laps or rests upon the other, the two thus holding the edges of the cloth at the placket-hole securely together and so preventing the gaping of said opening.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l shows the device spread at the top. Fig. 2 shows the same when closed. Fig. 3 shows the reverse faces of the clasps. Fig. i is an edge View of the device with some parts omitted seen as indicated by arrow in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the dotted line 5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows one part of the clasp detached. Fig. shows the application of the device to a dress-skirt. Fig. 5 is drawn to a scale larger and Fig. 7 to a scale smaller than that of the remaining figures.

i Referring to the drawings, A B are the two parts of the clasp adaptedto be secured, respectively, to the meeting ends of the divided band C of the dress-skirt D. These parts of Ythe clasp are equal and alike as to size and outline and are preferably made of sheet metal, one part, A, being formed with a hook or tongue a, Figs. 8 and 5, to catch upon or engage the other part, B, to hold the ends of the band together. The partB is preferably formed with a downturned part l), serving to reinforce and round the edge of the part B in contact with the hook or tongue.

The parts of the clasp are formed with openings or eyelets c, by means of which they may he fastened to the skirt-band either by stitching through the openings or by means of the eyelets themselves in a manner that is common.

Each part of the clasp is formed with a horizontal opening d, Fig. 6, near its lower edge, in which to receive a thin pendent sheetmetal loop e, having its ends bent down parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 5. Between the ends of these Ushaped loops are placed the upper ends of equal and similar thin narrow strips fg, preferably of metal, secured to the respective loops by eyelets h or other simple pivotal fasteners. The lower ends of these strips are also brought together, so as to lap one upon the other, and joined by an eyelet i or other simple device allowing a pivotal motion of the parts upon each other. The strips thus connected with the loops pend from the latter, the whole being supported by the parts of the clasp. The strips f and g are curved, as shown in Fig. 4:, to correspond to the form of the wearer, and when the device is constructed as above described the strips may be swung laterally to the right or the left, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, these motions being made upon the fasteners or eyelets h 7i as pivotal IOO centers. Also these strips may be swung in directions toward or from the wearer, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, these motions being permitted on account of the loops turning upon the parts or bearings 7c of the clasps. Also the pivot connection at 'i' be tween the strips allows the device to be spread or opened at the top, as shown in Fig. l, or closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

In applying this device to a dress-skirt D, as shown in Fig. 7, the part B of the clasp is secured on the outer surface of the band at one end, While the part A is secured to the inner face of the band at the opposing end. The two strips f g, which are perforated along their edges at 'n fa, are secured to the respective edges of the cloth at the sides of the divide 'by being stitched through at said perforations. The overlapping strip f is secured on the inner or under surface of the cloth and covered by the latter and the underlapping strip g being secured on the outer face of the cloth. When the two ends of the band C are brought together and clasped, the hook or tongue a passesin under the part B at Z (see also Fig. 5) between the band and said part B. The clasp is so formed that when the parts are thus brought together and fastened the part A exactly covers and hides the part B, as shown in Fig. 2, While the overlapping strip f exactly covers and hides the under strip g, the placket-hole or divide being thus effectually closed, and as the cloth of the skirt and of the band covers the strip f and the partA of the clasp, respectively, all parts of thedevice are covered and out of sight when the placket-hole is closed, as stated.

The edges m of the plates or parts A and B of the clasp may be ornaniented to suit taste.

Vthat I claim as my invention isl. A device for closing the divide of a dressskirt, consisting of a two-part clasp, a pendent loop joined pivotally to each part of said clasp, and thin strips, secured pivotally to said respective loops, and pivotally connected at their lower ends, said strips being adapted to swing or turn either laterally sidewise, or in directions forward or back, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A device for closin g the divide of a dressskirt, consisting of a two-part clasp, each part being formed with a horizontal slot near its lower edge, and a U-shaped loop occupying each of said slots, in combination with pendent strips having their upper ends inserted between the pendent branches of said respective loops and pivotally secured therein, said strips being curved below the loops and connected pivotally at their lower ends, the strips being adapted to swing both laterally and forward andbackward,substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 1st day of October, 1897, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC N. VVEITZEL.

Witnesses:

ENos B. WHITMORE,

M. L. WINsToN. 

